Dedham Education Founation spells success at annual Bee

Tuesday

Mar 26, 2019 at 11:00 AM

Editor's Note: The following was submitted by the Dedham Education Foundation.

On Friday, March 8, at the Middle School, teams from the Dedham Middle School and elementary schools competed in the 26th Annual Spelling Bee. The Middle School was filled to capacity while students competed for the championship and their

Mark Reilly, president of the DEF Board extended his gratitude at the conclusion of the Spelling Bee by saying, “Thank you to Superintendent Welch for expertly moderating the event and Principal Hillman for hosting us and supporting the event.”

The premier sponsor of the event was Dedham Savings, which has supported DEF over the years at its fundraising events such as the Spelling Bee, Bernie’s Run and many more. Several other local businesses and residents generously sponsored the event. A full listing may be found via

https://www.dedhameducationfoundation.org/spelling-bee.

Each year, with support from the Dedham community, the DEF is able to provide $20,000 in grant awards each year. These grants help fund key programs and initiatives to enhance student learning. These grants make possible special classroom presentations that supplement the curriculum; field trips to places such as the Lowell mills, the Museum of Science, and the Museum of Fine Arts; innovative programs like the Link Crew at the High School; and educational materials for music, literature, science and the arts.

This spring, the DEF is accepting grants specifically for science, technology, engineering and technology, social emotional learning, or world languages and cultures. The grant for innovations in world languages and cultures is supported by the Nancy Bradley Memorial Fund, especially welcoming projects that encourage interest in world languages as well as tolerance and understanding of cultures beyond the United States.

More information about the DEF’s spring grant cycle can be found via https://www.dedhameducationfoundation.org/2019-spring-innovation-grants

Mark Reilly, president of the DEF, said, "We all want our children to visit museums, attend live performances, have guest speakers, read popular and award-winning books and have experiences that can open doors or spark an interest that could last a lifetime. Our board is committed to ensuring that all of Dedham’s public school students are educated in such a rich and engaging environment. We thank you for your continued support to make this a reality for our students for the next 25 years, too!"